Automobile heating system



E. C. BOOTH AUTOMOBILE HEATING SYSTEM March 3l, 1942.

Filed April 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mlm Maw/fm as AUTOMOBILE HEATINGSYSTEM Fi1ed April 8, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 3' NVENTOR. 9,91 ('5007'14,

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 2,277,814 AUToMonE HEATING SYSTEM Earl C. Booth,Columbus, Ind., assignor to Noblitt-Sparks Industries, Inc.,

corporation ot Indiana Application April 8, 1940, Serial No. 328,464

8 Claims.

One method being used at the present time for controlling thetemperature of the cooling water in internal combustion engines forautomobiles involves the use of a temperature-responsive valve whichacts to direct the water leaving the engine water jacket either throughthe usual radiator or through a by-pass which does not include theradiator. In one standard make of automobile embodying this expedient,the temperature-responsive valve is disposed within a housing attachedto the water` jacket of the engine, su'ch housing receiving water fromthe water jacket and being provided with a main outlet nipple connectedto the automobile radiator and with an auxiliary outlet nipple connectedto the inlet of a water-circulating pump which discharges directly intothe water jacket.

My invention relates to the connection of an automobile-body heater in acooling system of the type described, to control means for regulatingthe flow of water through the heater, and more particularly to theincorporation of such control means together with suitable connectionsin a housing which can be substituted for the,

standard housing above described.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a housing designed to be held inplace on the water jacket by the same means as is employed in theattachment of the standard housing, and I provide the housing with mainand auxiliary outlet nipples substantially the same as those of thestandard housing. In addition, the housing is provided with two nipplesVadapted respectively e for connection to the water-supply andwaterreturn conduits of an automobile-body heater. The housing is formedinteriorlyV to provide a chamber and a transverse passage, the latterinterconnecting the auxiliaryoutlet nipple and the nipple connected tothe return line from the heater. 'I'he customary temperature-responsivevalve is disposed within the housing and operates to direct waterreceived from the water jacket either to the main outlet nipple or tothe chamber. A manually controlled valve disposed within the housing isselectively operable to cause water from the chamber to low either intothe transverse passage or to the nipple which is connected to the supplyline of the heater.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Fig. 1 is afragmental side elevation illustrating the arrangement of the housingand the manner in which it is connected to the radiator and to theautomobile-body heater; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlargedscale through the housing and the parts directly asso- Columbus, Ind., a

ciated with it showing the thermostatic valve in the position itoccupies at low'temperatures and the manually controlled valve arrangedto effect the supply of water to the heater; Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2,but showing the thermostatic valve in the position it'occupies at hightemperatures and the manually controlled valve arranged to prevent thesupply of water to the heater; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through ahousing containing a modified form of manually controlled valve; andFig. 6 is a vertical section through a device. embodying 'a modifiedform of thermostatic valve.

In the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, there is mounted on-thewater-jacket I0 of the engine and near the front end thereof a housingII the interior of which communicates with fthe waterjacket throughan'opening I2 in the upper wall thereof. The housing I I is providedwith a main discharge nipple I5 adapted for connection to the automobileradiator I6 by means of a hose Il, and with a second, or auxiliary,outletl nipple I8 connected to the auxiliary inlet opening I3 ofa pump20, by means of which cooling water is forced into and through theengine water-jacket. The main inlet opening of the pump 20 is connectedthrough a conduit 2| to the lower portion of the radiator I6. Desirably,the parts described are disposed adjacent the front end of the engine,so that a simple elbow 22 will serve to connect the auxiliary-outletnipple I8 with `the auxiliary inlet I9 of the pump 20.

The construction as so far described is standard. VWithin the housing Ilit is customary to dispose a valve controlled by atemperature-responsive element responsive to the temperature of water inthe water-jacket I0 and operative to divide water leavingI thewater-jacket between the main outlet I5 andthe auxiliary outlet I8. Whenthe engine is cold, this valve operates to direct substantially all thewater through-the auxiliary outlet I8, whence the water is returned tothe water jacket without passing through the radiator I6. .As the enginewarms up, however,

' the temperature-responsive valve operates to direct some lof the waterthrough the main outlet I5, whence it is returned to the water jacketthrough the radiator. By controlling the division of Water between theradiator and the by- `pass, the temperature-responsive valve functionsto maintain substantially constant the tempera.- ture of the water inthe water-jacket I0.

In practicing my invention; the housing II is providedexteriorly withnipples 30 and 3| and interiorly with partitions dening a transversepassage 32 and a chamber 33, one of such partiwith alined openings 38and 39 through whichl the passage 32 and the nipple 3l respectivelycommunicate ,with the chamber 33. A valve member 40 is movably mountedbetween the openings 38 and 39 so that either opening may be closed.

The nipple 3| on the housing Il is adapted for connection to a supplyconduit for a heater' lliA mounted within the automobile body, asindicated in Fig. l; while the nipple-3|l is adapted for connection tothe conduit through which water from the heater 45 is returned.

The passage 32 and the chamber 33, as will be evident from Fig. 3,occupy less than the entire width of the housing II so that there remainat the sides ofthe passage and chamber passages I1 through which thelower portion of the housing Il communicates with the main outlet i5.Within the lower portion of the housing there is disposed valvemechanism controlled by a temperature-responsive element and operativeto control the supply of water from the waterjacket to ther main outletl5 or to the chamber 33. If the valve member 40 is in the upper positionwhere it closes the opening between the passage 32 and chamber 33, watersupplied to the chamber 33 will pass through the opening 39 and thenipple 3l to the heater, returning by Way of the nipple 30, passage 32,nipple I8, and elbow 22 to the pump 20. If the valve 40 is in its lowerposition, in which it closes the opening 39, water supplied to thechamber 33 will flow through the opening 38 into the passage 32 and bereturned to the pump. When the water tem` perature reaches the valuewhich is to be maintained, the temperature responsive valve operates topermit some of the water emerging from the water-jacket to iiow throughthe passages 61 to the main outlet l5, whence it will return to the pumpthrough the radiator I6, being cooled on the way.

One form of temperature-responsive valve suitable for use in practicingmy invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 and comprises an inverted'cup-shaped member 50 provided at its lower end with an outwardly turnedange 5| adapted to be received between the lower end of the housing l iand the top of the water-jacket i0 to hold" the lvalve in place. Thecup-shaped member 50 is provided in its side wall with laterallydirected discharge openings 52 which communicate with the interior ofthe housing Below the openings 52 the member 50 is provided with aVhorizontal partition having a central opening the edges of which areturned downwardly to form a frusto-conical valve seat 53. Across thebottom end of the member 50 there extends a stirrup 51| to which issecured the lower end of a temperature-responsive sylphon bellows 55.secured to the upper end of the bellows 55 extends upwardly through thevalve seat 53 and bears at its upper end an inverted cup-shaped valvemember 51 having its edge turned out-Y wardly to form a flangecomplementary to the valve seat 53. 'Ihe valve member 51 is received Arod 55 and is slldable in acentralripeningl provided in'l the upper endof the member 50 and, in its end wall, has openings aordingcommunication between the interior of the member 50 and the chamber 33.

When the temperature of water in the waterjacket I0 is relatively low,the bellows 55 is collapsed as shown in Fig. 2, and the valve member 51is in engagement with the valve seat 53 to prevent the escape of waterotherwise than into the chamber 33 through the holes in the upper end ofthe valve member 51. As the temperature of the water within thewater-jacket I0 increases, the bellows 55 expands and lifts the valvemember 51 from the valve seat 53, thus permitting some of the water fromthe water-jacket to escape through the lateral openings 52 into theinterior of the housing ii and thence through the nipple I5 and conduiti1 to the radiator.

I iind it advantageous, in order to prevent overheating of the engine,to prevent or at least materially reduce the flow of Water through theheater or through the by-pass |8-22 should the temperature of waterwithin the water-jacket exceed a predetermined maximum. To this end, Iprovide means which, under conditions of extreme high temperature, willclose the openings in the upper end of the valve member 51 and thusprevent the escape of water into the chamber 33. In the arrangementillustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, the upper end of the cup-shaped member 50is formed with an upwardly projecting neck somewhat smaller in diameterthan the open lower end of the chamber 33; .,nd in the annular spacethus provided I dispose a ring or collar 60 which closes such annularspace to prevent the escape of water from the chamber 33 and whichcarries a diametrically extending yoke 6| overlying the upper end of thevalve member 51 and wide enough to close the openings in the upper endof the valve member. When the temperature of water in the water-jacketis low, the upper end of the valve member 51 4is spaced downwardly fromthe yoke 6|, so that water can freely escape from the openings in theupper end of the valve member into the chamber 33. When, however, thetemperature of the water in the water-jacket i0 exceeds a predeterminedmaximum, the valve member 51 engages the yoke El, as shown in Fig. 4, toshut off the flow of water into the chamber 33. Desirably, in order notto prevent all flow through the heater 45 when it is connected to thewater-circulating system of the engine, the yoke 6| is providedcentrally with a small bleed opening 62 through which a small quantityof water can escape into the chamber 33 even when the valve member 51 isin engage.

struction shown in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive is desirably a body of rubberor similar resilient material having an annular ange or "other centralportion large enough in diameter to close the openings which affordcommunication between the chamber 33 and the passage 32 and nipple 3|respectively. In order to provide for insertion of the` valve member,the upper wall of the housing is provided in line with the openings justreferred to with a screw-threaded opening for the reception of a plug55, and the lower wall of the passage 32 is provided with ascrewthreaded opening for the reception of a valve seat 66. The openingin the bottom wall of the passage 32`is large enough to pass the valvemember 40 while the opening in the upper wall of the '-Ihe valve 40 isarranged to be moved vertically between its respective controllingpositions. The

control means illustrated in the drawings takes the form of a Bowdenwire 88 which is secured at one end to the valve member 88 and whichlextends upwardly therefrom through a stuiling box 69 in the plug 85, andthence to a control member 'I8 accessible for operation by the driver ofthe automobile.

When operating the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4` inclusive, theiiow oi' cooling' water will depend upon the respective positions of themanually controlled valve and-thermostatically-controlled valve 51. Whenthe temperature of thewater in the water-jacket I8 is below that desiredat normal operating conditions, the valve 51'wi1l be seated on the valveseat 53 to prevent water from escaping through the openings 52 into theinterior ofthe housing II and thence through the discharge nipple I tothe radiator. As a result, all water leaving the waterjacket will iiowthrough the openings in the endof the valve member 51 into the chamber38. If the manually controlled valve member 80 is Y3 oi' the ports 18and 11. Between the plane of the ports 8 2 and 88 and the plane of theports 88 and 85, the valve member '15 is divided interlorly by ahorizontal partition 88.` ,1

For controlling the valve member 88, it may be provided with an axialshaft 88 which extends upwardly through a stuillng box 88 in the hpusingII. A crank 8l secured to the upper end of the shaft 88 is connected toone end of aABowdenwire control device 81 by means of which thev valve80 may be rotated about its axis.

. In the position illustrated in Fig. 5, the valve 88 operates to directwater through the heater connected to the nipples 88 and 8|, the port 82being in alinement with the port 18, the ports 88 in its upper positionas illustrated in Fig. 2, I

direct communication between the chamber 33 and passage 32 will beprevented, and the water will ilow from the chamber 33 to the nipple 3land thence to the heater, returning through the nipple 30, passage 32,and elbow 22 to the pump 20. If the manually controlled valve 88 is inits lower position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and if thethermostatically controlled valve is still closed, water entering thechamber 33 will pass into the passage 32 and will be returned directlyto the pump 20 without passing through the heater. As the temperature ofthe water within the waterjacket I0 increases the bellows 55 will expandto raise the valve member 51 from the seat 53 andy described will enterthe chamber 33 through the openings in the ends of the valve member 51and will escape from the chamber 33 yeither through the heater 85 ordirectly into the passage 32, depending upon the position of themanually controlled valve member 48.

The device illustrated in Fig. 5 employs a different type of manuallycontrolled valve, but is otherwise substantially the same as that shownin Figs. 2 to 4. xThe housing II is formed interiorly with a valvechamber 15, desirably coaxial with'v the thermostatically controlledvalve 51. Near its upper end, the valve chamber 15 is provided withdiametrically opposite ports 'I6 and 11 communicating respectively withthe nipples 38 and I8; and near its lower end, the valve chamber isprovided with a similar pair of diametrically opposite ports 18 and I8communieating respectively with the nipples 3l and I8.

The lower end of the valve chamber 15 is open 83 spaced at 90 from eachother. In its upper end, the valve member-'83 is provided withdiametrically opposite ports 84 and 85 in the plane @nd 85 beingrespectively 'alined with the ports 18 and 11, and. the-port 18 beingclosed. As a result, water discharged into the chamber 33 will enter theinterior of the valve member 88 below the partition 88, and will escapethrough the port 18 and the nipple 3| to the heater, from which it .willbe returned by way of the nipple 30, ports "I6, 88, 85, 11, nipple I8,andelbow 22 to pump. If the valve 88 is rotated 90 from the positionillustrated in Fig. 5, the ports 18, 11, and 18 will all be closed, andthe port 83 in the valve member will be brought into alinement with theport 19. With the valve so adjusted, water entering it from the chamber33 will escape by way of the ports 83 and 'I8 directly into theauxiliary outlet nipple I8. i

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the thermostatic valve operates asbefore to direct all.

water leaving the water-jacket into the chamber 33 .until that water hasreached a predeter- I ing a different iorm of thermostatic valve 92which, when cold, discharges laterally through ports 92 and, when hot,through an upwardly directed, central opening 88. Whensuch 'avalve is tobe employed, the chamber 33 is made in annular form so that the ports82' will discharge into it, and the interior of the housing II is soarranged that water emerging from the opening 93 will ilow to the mainoutlet nipple I5.

The arrangement of the manually controlled I valve means illustrated inFig. 6 is somewhat diilerent from that illustrated in any of the othermodications so far described. In Fig. 6 the chamber 33 communicates withthe passage 32 through an upwardly directed opening 9|, and the passage32 is formed with a vertical stretch 'in which there is disposed a valveseat 55 alined with the opening 84. The valve member 48 is disposedbetween the opening 98 and the valve seat 95, and is vertically movableunder the control of the Bowden wire 68, as in the constructionillustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

When the valve 40 in Fig. 6 is in its lowermost position closing theopening 84, escape of water from the chamber 33 into the passage 32 isprevented, and water emerging from the ports 92' of the thermostatcvalve ows through the chamber 33 to the nipple 3l and thence through theheater, being returned through the nipple 30 and passage 32 to thevelbow 22. When it is Y and water \exnergng through the charging intosaid water-jacket and having a main inlet connected tol saldradiator,said pump also having an auxiliary inlet, saidl water-jacket' "having anupwardly directed outlet opening, a hollow casing disposed over saidoutlet opening, said casing being provided exteriorly with a main outletnipple connected to said radiator, with an auxiliary outlet nippleconnected to the auxiliary inlet of said pump, ples, an automobile bodyheater of the circulating iiuid type having -supply and return conduitsconnected respectively to said two additional nipples, said casing beingprovided interiorly with a chamber and with a transverse passageconnecting said auxiliary outlet nipple with that one of said additionalnipples which is associated with the return conduit of said heater,temperature-responsive valve means disposed within said casing andresponsive to the temperature of water in said water jacket to dividebetween said chamber and said main outlet nipple water entering thecasing from the water jacket, and valve means within said casing andselectively operable under manual control to cause water from saidchamber to flow either into said transverse passage or into that one ofsaid additional nipples which is associated with the supply conduit ofsaid heater.

2. In combination with the engine water-jacket end radiator of anautomobile, a pump discharging into said water-jacket and having a maininlet connected to said radiator, said pump also having an auxiliaryinlet, said water-jacket having an upwardly directed outlet opening, ahollow casing disposed over said outlet opening, an automobile-bodyheater of the circulating iluid type, said casing being providedexterior-ly f with two outlet nipples connected respectively with saidheater and said radiator, a return conduit connecting sai'd heater withthe auxiliary inlet of said pump and including a portion disposed withinsaid casing, said casing being provided interiorly with a chamber,temperatureresponsive `valve means responsive to the temperature ofwater in the water-jacket for dividing between said chamber and saidradiator water entering the casing from the water jacket, and manuallycontrolled valve means within said casing and selectively operable tocause water from said chamber to `flow either to said heater or to saidreturn conduit.

3. In combination with the engine Water-jacket and radiator of anautomobile, a pump discharging into said water-jacket and having a maininlet connected to said radiator, said pump also having an auxiliaryinlet, said Water-jacket having an upwardly directed outlet opening, ahollow casing disposed over said -outlet opening, an automobile-bodyheater of the circulating iluid type, said casing having main andauxiliary outlets connected respectively to said radiator and to theauxiliary inlet of said pump, supply and return conduits interconnectingsaid casing and heater, said casing being provided interiorly with achamber, temperature-responsive valve means responsive to thetemperature of water in the water-jacket for dividing between said thethermostatic valve will flow chamber and said radiator water enteringthe casing from the water jacket, and manually controlled valve meanswithin said casing and selecand with two additional niptively operableto cause water from said chamber to ilow either` to said heater or tosaid auxiliarv pump-inlet. l

4. Means for controlling the supplyof water from the water-jacket of anYinternal combustion engine to an automobile body heater of Vthecirculatirig uid type, comprising a hollow casing adapted to receivewatery from the engine waterjacket and being provided interiorly with achamber, said chamber having -an inlet opening for the admission ofwater received by said casing from the engine water-jacket,temperature-responsivevalve means responsive to the temperature of waterentering said casing for restrictlng water-now into said chamber throughthe inlet opening .thereof when the temperature of such water exceeds apredetermined maximum,

said chamber being adapted for connection to, the heater, and manuallyoperable valve meansY associated with said chamber for controlling theflow from said chamberto said heater of water passed by saidtemperature-responsive valvemeans. Y

y 5. In combination with the engine water-jacket and radiator of anautomobile, an automobilebody heater bf the circulating fluid type, ahollow said casing for opening said normally closed valve l casingadapted to receive water from said water jacket, conduits for conveyingwater from said casing to said radiator and heater respectively,conduits forreturning water from said radiator and heater, a normallyclosed valve for controlling the flow of water from said casing to saidradiator, a normally open valve for controlling the now of water to saidheater, and means responsive to the temperature of water entering whensuch water is at or above a predetermined temperature and for at leastpartially closing said normally open valve when the temperature of s'uchwater reaches a predetermined maximum.

6. In combination with the engine water-Jacket and radiator of anautomobile, an automobilebody heater of the circulating fluid type. ahollow casing adapted to receive water from said water jacket, conduitsfor conveying Water from said casing to said radiator and heaterrespectively, conduits for returning water from said radiator andheater, a normally closed valve for controlling the flow of water fromsaid casing to said radiator, a normally open valve for controlling theflow of water to `said heater, and a single temperature-responsiveelement operatively connected to both said valves and responsive to thetemperature of water entering said casing for opening said normallyclosed`valve when such water is at or above a predetermined temperatureand for at least partially closing said normally open valve when thetemperature of such water 4 reaches a predetermined maximum.

'1. In combination with the water-jacket of an automobile engine, saidwater-jacket having an inlet and an outlet, a cooling radiator, anautomobile-body heater of the circulating uid type, conduits connectingysaid radiator and heater in parallel between the outlet and inlet ofsaid water-jacket, a normally closed valve for controlling iiow of waterthrough said radiator, a normally open valve for controlling ow of waterthrough said heater, and means responsive to the temperature of waterpassing through said water-jacket outlet for opening said normallyclosed valve when such water is at or abovea cated adjacent the inletends of the conduits with v which they are respectively associated. .v

8. In combination with thefwater-jacket of an automobile engine, saidwater-jacket having an inlet and an outlet, a cooling radiator,.an auto-Y mobile-.body heater of the circulating uid type,

conduits connecting said radiator and heater in parallel between theoutlet and inlet of said waterjacket, a normally open valve forcontrolling ilow of Water through said heater, and means responsive,V tothe temperature of water passing through said water-jacket outlet'l forvat least partially closingsad valve when the temperature of such waterreaches a.- predetermined maximum, said valve being located adjacent theinlet end-of the conduit with which it is associated.

EARL C. BOOTH.

